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Inspired Chelsea Dust Off the Foxes

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An inspired Chelsea dust off the champions Leicester City with a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea 3-0 Leicester City

Chelsea tore apart the league champions Leicester City, condemning them to a fourth consecutive away defeat as Costa, Hazard and Moses netted over the course of an inspired performance in their home ground.

Diego Costa broke the deadlock after just 7 minutes, preying on some shambolic defending by the visitors to find the target from a corner. Eden Hazard followed him later in the first half, taking advantage of another mishap to guide it round the keeper.

Leicester did come out a much better side for the second half, but it was far from enough, and Victor Moses closed the show with a well made third as Conte's men triumphantly rebutted the claims of his exit from Stamford Bridge.

Image: Getty Images

In a collision between the last two league champions, the Blues were quick to lay out their plan, controlling a substantial chunk of the possession while Leicester had the counter-attack firmly in their minds - even if Riyad Mahrez wasn't starting a league game for the first time in a year.

Contrary to other occasions, Chelsea weren't sterile with the ball. Eden Hazard's promising run ended in a scuffed shot, just before Victor Moses' darting run ended with a cross being tipped away. That would ultimately be the start of the Foxes' undoing, with the hosts' exposing the set-piece frailties on the very first attempt.

Diego Costa capitalised on pedestrian defending from the champions to put Conte's men in front after just 7 minutes. Hazard's corner from the right was drilled low, as Matić knocked it on to the Spaniard in acres of space, thumping it low into goal as Wes Morgan had his head in his hands.

Image: Peter Nicholls / Reuters

The struggles would continue, though, as Chelsea continuously compounded the attacking area. Morgan again cut a frustrated figure as he cleared the danger from Hazard's cross, with the Belgian again getting involved with a half-chance the next time round, a dipping volley attempt going nowhere near in hindsight.

Hazard would soon be rewarded for his persistence when, in the 33rd minute, he pounced on chaotic defending to net the Blues' second. A coming together between Huth and Hernandez when trying to clear, with Pedro then finding his teammate who was fortunate to get a lucky bounce on the ball, running on to the loose one and taking a touch to direct it around the onrushing Schmeichel.

Image: ESPN FC

Further damage could have been done with two menacing free-kicks from David Luiz, one striking the woodwork and the other being palmed away by the Leicester keeper. Hazard continued to probe, while Leicester just couldn't catch a break, as Chelsea went into the half-time interval in commanding control.

Image: Premier League

Referee Andre Marriner had a busier start than expected for the second half, with all eyes on him for two penalty appeals. The first saw Pedro's shot strike Fuchs' arm in the box, then Schlupp on the other end was felled by Victor Moses - neither of them were given. Leicester did look the more recharged of the two teams as the action resumed, with Albrighton's shot fizzing over the frame of goal - it was certainly good news for the neutral, with the tempo skyrocketing.

Kasper Schmeichel kept his side in the game by denying Moses as another chance opened up from a set-piece. There was no time for breathers, with David Luiz then almost turning it into his own net as he slid to get in front of a cross bound for Jamie Vardy. Chelsea responded with the counter, but Hazard's delivery was beaten away.

Despite the introductions of Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani, Leicester were still unable to really shake Courtois and his goal. For all their knocking on the door, they would be flattened by a third blow - at the hands of Victor Moses.

The Nigerian came inside from the flanks, where he exchanged with Nathaniel Chalobah whose backheel set him up to fire past Schmeichel at the near post and wrap things up at SW3. Leicester finished the game without a single attempt on target.